All of Us: A First Conversation About Disability

First Conversations

by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, Jonathan Eden (illustrator)

Based on the research that race, gender, disability, and other important topics should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.

Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism, this topic-driven picture book offers clear, concrete language and compelling imagery to introduce the concept of disability. This book celebrates all bodies and abilities, just as they are, and addresses the inequities and opportunities for change in today’s world.

While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about tough issues from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.

These books offer a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the back matter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.

Genres: Picture Books, Disability, Childrens, Nonfiction

38 pages, Board Book

Published July 1, 2025

About the author

Megan Pamela Ruth Madison (she, her) is an early childhood educator, scholar, and activist based in New York City. She began her career working as an assistant in a Waldorf elementary school. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, Megan then went on to become a teacher in a Head Start preschool classroom. Now, as a doctoral candidate at Brandeis University, she works part-time facilitating workshops for teachers and families on race, gender and sexuality. Megan is currently working on a board book series with co-author Jessica Ralli for Rise x Penguin Workshop on race, gender, consent and body positivity. Megan recently completed a term on the governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (or NAEYC) after several years serving as a co-facilitator of the association's Diversity & Equity Interest Forum. In that role, she worked to organize early childhood professionals around the country who are passionate about social justice. She is proud to hold a master’s degree in early childhood education from Dominican University. Megan lives in Harlem (unceded land of the Lenape people), where she loves reading, eating ice cream, and building community with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (or JFREJ).

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/13/2025 - My daughter attends a preschool where some of the students have disabilities. This book was an excellent opportunity to talk about differences. It was a bit lengthy for her attention span, but I will reread this with her and look for other books in the series.

[Audrey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Us: A First Conversation About Disability is about how different disabilities can look (or can be hidden), what ableism looks like in a community and how we can combat it, and how all of us need help within our lives, not just those with disabilities. This book has the right vocabulary that an elementary student of any age hearing this story could learn from it. Whether they remember the definition of the word ableism or how doing things looks different for everybody, students will gain knowledge on disabilities and how to actively stop ableism in their everyday lives.
Here are just a few quotes that I really liked from this book:
1. "People are different from each other, like everything in nature. Some thins are more common, and some things are less common" (pg 10).
2. "Fairness doesn't mean that everybody gets the same, it means that everybody gets what they need" (pg 18).
3. "Access feels good and helps everybody" (pg 20).
This book also has a 'Continue the Conversation' page where it gives in-depth definitions of words and concepts relating to disabilities (that is so neat!)

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, as you can see by my 4 stars, I like this book, but I did not like the illustrations quite as much in this one as those in some of the other books in this series.

Also, within one of the illustrations, one of the characters is creating a banner or something that says, "Nothing about us without us!" (a good principle to follow regarding any minority), but after looking up both authors and the illustrator, I don't see that any of them have a disability (or at least the bios I can find on their websites and such don't say that). I also do not see in the book an acknowledgement for sensitivity readers. Given who the authors are, I'm sure they did their research; I just thought it was a little ironic that an illustration contained that message, and they didn't seem to abide by it. If one of them has a disability, please let me know!

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid "First Conversations" book about disabilities, ableism, and disability justice. I found this one a little less concrete than some of the other First Conversations books, possibly just because it's such a huge topic, but this is still a great book to read aloud and consider in conversation with young readers.

Themes: Disability, Ableism, Disability Justice, Community, We're All the Same/We're all different
age range: Toddler-Early Elementary

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the First Conversations series, this nonfiction picture book tackles speaking to young children about disabilities with a straight-forward approach. The book begins by explaining that everyone looks different from one another and that it is not what we can physically do that makes us matter. The book moves on to respecting how people describe themselves. It talks about access and ableism, defining both clearly and offering deeper explanations about disability justice and its importance.

It is powerful to find a picture book that offers information that is so informative and impactful. This book goes beyond the superficial nods at disability and truly looks at the damage of ableism and offers resources on what people can do to change access. There is no talking down to children here, just a frank, clear approach to the subject that centers each person with a disability as their own expert and voice.

Get this one into your library collections. Appropriate for ages 3-7.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice addition to the series. Came from an anonymous person, from my wish list.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it for what it trying to convey to children-that is is a first conversation, but it was a little lengthy for my little one's attention.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have been good as a picture book. Not really board book material.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information in an age appropriate way!

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/13/2025 - Great book! Read with Momma.

[Aqua · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a disabled teacher, this will be a useful reference for talking about disabilities, ableism and access with my students.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good opening conversation about disability, but a little wordy. Really good backmatter for parents and caregivers. Lots of soft, rounded illustrations featuring lots of different people with lots of different types of disabilities.